Older People's Commissioner for Wales: An update

Earlier this year, I released a report calling for the preservation of community services which are essential for helping older people to maintain their health, independence and wellbeing.

The report, entitled ‘The Importance and Impact of Community Services within Wales’, outlines the importance of provisions including buses and community transport, public toilets, pavements, public seating, outdoor areas, libraries, leisure facilities, community and day centres.

There is real concern among many older people that these vital services are disappearing, which will have a devastating impact on their lives.

The evidence in the report was drawn from a series of focus groups that took place with older people around Wales, as well as from a range of partners with expertise in specialist areas.

Many of these older people are housing association tenants and I meet them at home, in their residential complexes and schemes, as well as at the various clubs and groups which they are members of, through my ongoing Engagement Roadshow.

The community services that older people consistently talk about are not luxuries, but are lifelines to helping them stay independent, healthy and connected to their local communities, their friends and families.

I understand the current budgetary pressures being placed upon Local Authorities and that difficult decisions on expenditure and savings must be made. It is vital, however, that as spending decisions are made, essential community services are recognised as being as impactful and as important as statutory services and that older people are able to continue to access them.

Building on the report, I will publish a toolkit later this year to help housing association residents and all older people to engage with Local Authorities and influence the decisions that affect them.

I am also planning a number of seminars for key local authority staff, to present the case for the retention of community services, facilities and infrastructure in Wales and to discuss and agree an effective way forward.

For a copy of ‘The Importance and Impact of Community Services within Wales’ or to find out more about my work across the country, visit www.olderpeoplewales.com or call 08442 640670.

Sarah Rochira
Older People's Commissioner for Wales

Only the lonely...

On a wild windy day, only 50m from the crashing waves of Cardigan Bay, Sarah Rochira (Older People’s Commissioner) and her colleague Kelly came to visit Mrs Jones in Aberystwyth, whose terraced house nestles snugly against the castle walls.

We have been helping Mrs Jones to reduce her eye-watering £318 per month Direct Debit from Scottish Power. Mrs Jones had reached the end of her tether in trying to contact Scottish Power since August, when her payments went up to this incredible figure. We hit the same impenetrable brick wall, and only found a way through by using the Welsh language service. Having given the helpful Scottish Power officer the updated meter readings, we have reduced her Direct Debit to a still painful £192 per month. We are working with the client to tackle her inefficient heating scheme.

The Commissioner’s conversation with Mrs Jones, however, uncovered a wider and far more personal issue, common to far too many older people, even in close knit urban areas. Loneliness and isolation was her real heartache. 'I've always been such a sociable person, I loved going out... I've only been out of the house once in the past year, and that was only up the road to St Michael's Church for a funeral.'

The house is accessed via numerous steep, uneven, and varying height steps and, whilst a handrail has been fitted, Mrs Jones still sees the climb back up as an Everest too daunting to face.

Why doesn't she find a more suitable property? A flat or a sheltered scheme?

Herein lies the problem. This is not Mrs Jones's house, it is her home! Her home, which was bought nearly 50 years ago when she was newly married. 'We put in an offer on it and were worried sick all night, but it was the best thing we ever did.... We’ve raised our children and grandchildren here and my grandson still lives with me. I do not want to leave my home.'

The third sector, including us at Care & Repair, must continue to work together to help older people in all aspects that affect their ability to remain independent. That means far more than repairs and adaptations alone, it's all about the 'Care'.

Lesson relearned!


Dafydd Pugh-Jones
Rheolwr Gofal a Thrwsio / Care & Repair Manager

Older People's Commissioner for Wales: Listening to HA residents across Wales

For the last two months, I have been travelling across Wales meeting and speaking with people who are tenants of housing associations. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to find out about the work of the Older People’s Commissioner and let me know what matters most to them.

The role of the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Sarah Rochira, is to stand up and speak out for older people across Wales. That is why it is so important that we meet with people and talk with them about what matters most to them.

Older people across Wales have told us that they want their lives to have value, meaning and purpose. The people I have met as part of this series of visits have echoed this.

Public transport, especially buses, has come up time and time again. There is huge concern about the cuts to routes, but also the location of bus stops and the need for benches and bus shelters. Public transport helps people to get out and about and maintain their independence, allowing them to stay in touch with friends and do things they enjoy, as well as getting to doctors and hospitals. People have told me that they are really struggling to get to health appointments and visit loved ones in hospital.

Tenants have also told me how much they value the people who work on site for housing associations, particularly those who support activities and social events. Tenants had also clearly built strong friendships with their neighbours, which has resulted in strong communities. The link to having a good quality of life is clear – people who are not isolated are less likely to be lonely and suffer from depression. Many people were worried that this support may be cut and told me that staff were a lifeline; “I don’t know where I’d be without them” has been a common refrain. It is a testament to the hard work of housing association staff that their services are so valued. It has been inspiring to meet people who show that individuals really can make a difference.

I am looking forward to meeting many more housing association residents and staff over the next few months.

If you would like someone from the Older People's Commissioner for Wales to visit your scheme to let tenants know about our work and listen to their views, please contact Kate Hughes, Engagement Coordinator on kate.hughes@olderpeoplewales.com or 08442 640670.


Kate Hughes
Engagement Coordinator